Cvs Caremark To Provide $3 Million In Free Flu Shots To The Unemployed
Company will offer 100,000 seasonal flu shots to job seekers as part of a nationwide flu vaccination effort
Submitted byCVS Health
As part of a broad-reaching effort to keep Americans healthy this flu season, CVS Caremark today announced its commitment to providing 100,000 free seasonal flu shots to the unemployed. The program will include on-site flu clinics at One-Stop Career Center locations and distribution of vouchers for free flu shots at CVS/pharmacy or MinuteClinic. One-Stop Career Centers offer tools and training to job seekers.
The recent CVS Caremark 2009 Health IQ study revealed that those who are unemployed, seeking employment are among the least likely to get a flu shot, with only 34% reporting they received a flu shot last year, compared to 49% of respondents overall.
“The number of people who did not get a flu shot last year is alarming,” said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for CVS Caremark. “CVS Caremark wants to ensure cost and access are not barriers to getting a flu shot this year for one of the most vulnerable populations, the unemployed. Our commitment to offer 100,000 free flu shots is part of our broader efforts to help prevent the spread of seasonal flu which can lead to more serious and costly health problems.”
In addition to offering $3 million in free flu vaccinations for the unemployed, CVS Caremark is offering many convenient options for consumers to get a flu shot.
About CVS Caremark
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Does Medicare Cover Flu Shots At Rite Aid
Medicare covers one flu shot per flu season if you are enrolled in Medicare Part B and you get the flu shot from a Medicare-enrolled provider who accepts assignment.
Rite Aid fulfill the criteria as a provider, so it follows that you can get a flu shot there, for free, and have no deductible or coinsurance to pay.
Remember to ask the pharmacist to forward the flu shot information to your primary care doctor for your records.
Why Is It So Important For Seniors To Get Flu Shots
Who is at the greatest risk from catching the flu ?
- children less than 5 yrs old
- individuals suffering from certain existing health conditions
The flu related statistics for the elderly are particularly bad
- 9 out of 10 flu-related deaths in America are people aged over 65 years old
- 6 out of 10 flu-related hospital stays in America are people over 65 years old
One of the best measures you can take to prevent and protect against this, is to get a yearly flu shot.
The flu vaccines are available in both a normal strength dose and a high strength dose, which is typically recommended for the elderly.
The source for the statistics is: NCOA Center for Benefits Access Vaccines: What Medicare pays forwhich you can find and read here.
For the elderly, several factors increase the risk of serious illness caused by the flu virus
- elderly adults become more susceptible to catching the flu virus as they age
- the older an elderly adult is, the greater the chance they may develop serious complications if they catch the flu virus
- underlying health conditions can increase the risk of even greater complications from the flu virus
- elderly adults are the demographic the most likely to have underlying health conditions
Underlying conditions which can increase the risk of complications from the flu virus include
- Zoster vaccine
- Varicella vaccine
To find out more you can take a look at the CVS page on vaccinations on their website here.
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Although People With Insurance Pay Nothing When They Get Their Shot Many Dont Realize That Their Insurers Foot The Bill And That Those Companies Will Recoup Their Costs Eventually
In the Byzantine world of health care pricing, most people wouldnt expect that the ubiquitous flu shot could be a prime example of how the systems lack of transparency can lead to disparate costs.
The Affordable Care Act requires health insurers to cover all federally recommended vaccines at no charge to patients, including flu immunizations. Although people with insurance pay nothing when they get their shot, many dont realize that their insurers foot the bill and that those companies will recoup their costs eventually.
In just one small sample from one insurer, Kaiser Health News found dramatic differences among the costs for its own employees. At a Sacramento, Calif., facility, the insurer paid $85, but just a little more than half that at a clinic in Long Beach. A drugstore in Washington, D.C., was paid $32.
The wide discrepancy in what insurers pay for the same flu shot illustrates whats wrong with Americas health system, said Glenn Melnick, a health economist at the University of Southern California.
There is always going to be some variance in prices, but $85 as a negotiated price sounds ridiculous, he said.
Flu shots are relatively cheap compared with most health services, but considering the tens of millions of Americans who get vaccinated each year, those prices add up.
Health plans pass those expenses to consumers through higher premiums, economists say.
Cigna also said many issues are considered when determining its varied payments.
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Heres Why You Really Need To Get The Flu Vaccine Every Year
The flu vaccine is recommended for anyone six months or older, with very rare exceptions , the CDC says.
There are four kinds of influenza virusesA, B, C, and Dbut typically A and B are the ones that cause annual flu epidemics, the CDC says. Each year the influenza vaccine is designed to protect against the two strains of influenza A and one or two strains of influenza B that experts think will be most dangerous that flu season, according to the CDC. Influenza viruses change very quickly, which is why its important to get vaccinated every year, Dr. Schaffner says.
No matter which influenza strains are wreaking havoc in a given year, common flu symptoms include fever, coughing, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, fatigue, and vomiting or diarrhea, according to the CDC. But to think that the flu is merely a very bad cold severely underestimates its power. Influenza can cause hospitalizations, complications like pneumonia, and even death.
To that point: When you get the flu vaccine, youre contributing to herd immunity . This is the baseline level of vaccination a community needs to have to prevent vaccine-preventable illnesses from spreading. Additionally, the CDC notes that even if you do get the flu after being vaccinated, your symptoms will typically be less severe.
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Get Ready To Live Through Covid
The flu is reliably seasonal. The dominant strains for a given year usually start circulating in October and November before reaching their peak between December and February. Then the virus peters out over the next few months, then a new mutation arrives the next fall.
Every year, influenza strains the US health care system. In the flu season before Covid-19 arrived, 2018-2019, an estimated 29 million Americans were infected, there were more than 380,000 flu-related hospitalizations, and 28,000 people died from the virus. Covid-19 is not as bound by the calendar. US hospitals may endure not only a winter wave, in tandem with the flu, but also periodic spikes throughout the year as well. Both 2020 and 2021 saw small surges in the summer, followed by a massive wave once winter and the cold weather hit.
It is sort of the worst of both worlds, said Emily Martin, a University of Michigan epidemiologist. Youre always gonna expect a really bad winter season, but then you might have other bad times as well.
The reasons for seasonality are complex. But generally speaking, viruses survive better in colder environments and peoples behavior also tends to change when the weather gets cold spending more time inside, traveling for the holidays in ways that makes it easier for pathogens to spread.
The steps to avoid worst-case scenarios of overwhelmed hospitals and rationed care might sound familiar.
Will A Flu Shot Prevent Covid
A flu shot wont protect you from contracting the coronavirus directly, but if youre protected from the flu and its complicationsincluding hospitalizationsyou may, in theory, protect yourself from being exposed to COVID-19 in a hospital or other medical setting.
Related: Can a Pneumonia Vaccine Help Prevent COVID-19?
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Who Should Get The Flu Vaccine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months get a flu vaccine every year. People who are at a higher risk of complications from the flu are even more strongly urged to get a vaccine. This includes those 65 and over, pregnant women, children under 5, and people with certain chronic conditions like asthma.
If youre allergic to eggs, have had Guillain-Barré syndrome in the past, or are presently sick, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before getting vaccinated. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare type of autoimmune-related paralysis that can be triggered by infections.
Is The Vaccine Safe
The flu vaccine is safe, says Dr. Mieses Malchuk. The most common side effect is muscle soreness where the shot was given. If the vaccine is doing its jobwhich is to stimulate the immune systemyou may also feel achy or tired.
This does not mean youre sick, she stresses. Because the flu shot doesnt contain any live virus, it cant give you the actual flu. It also doesnt cause autism or any other illness, despite continuing rumors to the contrary.
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Where Can I Get A Flu Shot
You can get the vaccine in medical settings like your doctors office, certain workplaces that are still open, and at retailers across the country, including CVS which has nearly 10,000 locations, including 1,100 MinuteClinics. These are walk-in medical clinics located inside certain CVS and Target locations.
Given that flu season has already started, the best time to get a shot is right now. It takes two weeks for the vaccine to fully take effect.
How Does The Flu Shot Work
The flu shot is an inactivated flu virus that teaches your immune system to recognize the virus and clear it if you are infected. The flu shot is safe and widely available.
While the flu is common, it can be serious. Getting a flu shot is especially important for groups who are at higher risk for major complications, including:
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Those who are pregnant
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Your Primary Care Physician May Offer Free Flu Shots
Depending on your insurance plan, occupation and location, your family doctor or primary care physician may offer flu shots free of charge. In some areas, including New York City, your insurance co-pay may also be waived if your flu shot is the primary reason for your visit to an in-network doctor. Other locations may offer a sliding scale for the cost of the actual visit.
We Offer More Than Just Flu Shots
While vaccine availability may vary by state, all of our CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations offer most of the vaccinations commonly recommended by the CDC, including pneumonia, MMR , meningitis, and Hepatitis A and B.
Additionally, your pharmacist is an excellent resource for information about what vaccinations are appropriate for your age group.
An appointment for a vaccination is not required, but we do recommend that calling the store first to confirm that the vaccination youre looking for is in stock.
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Free Flu Shots Through Clinics Community Organizations And Public Health Departments
Many health departments and free clinics offer low-cost or free flu shots across the U.S. Here are a few examples:
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Most colleges offer free flu shots for their students. Check on your schools website to confirm.
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Military veterans enrolled in health care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can get a flu shot at their nearest VA health care facility. This program does not apply to family members of veterans.
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Many county health departments offer free, or discounted, flu vaccinations during flu season. Examples include:
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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, in partnership with select LA County Libraries, will offer free flu shots through November.
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The San Francisco Health Department offers convenient locations for members of the public to easily access free or low-cost flu vaccines.
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The Houston Health Department offers flu shots to uninsured and underinsured people on a sliding scale that ranges from free to $15.
Cant find a location near you on this list? Watch for announcements on your local news station or in your local newspaper or search online for free flu shots in your area or through your citys health department.
Where To Find Free Flu Shots For Children
With up to 198 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine available this year, everyone should be able to get a flu vaccine. And that is good news, especially since the flu vaccine recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices continue to state that all persons 6 months and older should get a yearly flu shot.
Although the best time to figure out where your family will get a flu shot is before flu season really gets started, you can likely still find a flu shot if you need one.
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Where Can You Get Free Flu Shots
Free flu shots are easier to find than you might think. If you’re a college student, most colleges offer free flu shots on-campus, while many employers offer free flu shots to their staff, says Dr. Sonpal.
Free flu shots are also available at your local pharmacies and some grocery stores. CVS and MinuteClinic locations in Target, for example, offer free flu shots every day at no cost through most health insurance policies and with no appointment necessary, according to a CVS representative.
Walgreens offers free flu shots through most health insurance policies, as well. You can get vaccinated during pharmacy and clinic hours every day without an appointment. The pharmacy is also currently running its “Get A Shot. Give A Shot” campaign: For every shot administered at a Walgreens pharmacy or health-care clinic between now and January 31, 2020, Walgreens will donate a vaccine to a child in need, “up to an aggregate donation value of $2.6 million,” says Rina Shah, pharmacy operations group vice president of Walgreens.
Wholesale clubs like Sam’s Club and Costco offer free flu vaccinations, tooand you don’t even have to be a member to get one, adds Dr. Sonpal. Military veterans enrolled in healthcare through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can also receive a free vaccination at Veterans Affairs health-care facilities.
Looking For Flu Shot Deals Read This
I called each chain to confirm their flu shot deals and prices.
For the latest information,
No matter what the quoted price is, you should always ask the pharmacy about any qualifying coupons before you pay for your flu shot. Whether the pharmacy supplies you with a coupon or not, the price may not be able to beat this GoodRx coupon.
Now lets look at what these major chains say youll pay for a flu shot at their pharmacies.
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How Effective Is The Vaccine
This varies from season to season because the vaccine itself changes each year. If the vaccine and the virus strains are a good match, the vaccine should be between 40 percent and 60 percent effective, says the CDC. If you do get sick even after a vaccine, chances are your illness will be much milder.
The CDC estimates that every year the flu hospitalizes 140,000 to 810,000 people and kills between 12,000 and 61,000. The vaccine may save 6,300 lives annually.
What Kind Of Flu Shot Should I Get
You should talk to your healthcare provider to find out what flu shot is best for you, as there are several types. According to the CDC:
- Standard flu shots are generally safe for healthy kids and adults.
- High-dose flu shots are recommended for people 65 years of age and older.
- Flu shots containing adjuvant are designed for patients 65 years of age and older.
- Flu shots made with cell cultures are safe for patients with egg allergies.
- You can also get a flu vaccine via a nasal spray instead of a traditional flu shot.
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Is It Too Late To Get A Flu Shot
If it turns out you dont have the flu, and you havent received your flu shot, then you can get one on the spot. To schedule your flu shot and/or COVID-19 vaccine or booster at a CVS Pharmacy or MinuteClinic nearest you, visit cvs.com or use the CVS Pharmacy App.
Schedule your flu and COVID-19 vaccines today! These vaccines are an important way to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness.
Does Medicare Pay For Flu Shots At Walgreens
Medicare will cover you for a flu shot at Walgreens if you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, and you have not already had a flu shot in that flu season.
Walgreens is Medicare-enrolled and accepts assignment, so the flu shot is totally free, and you will have no deductible, no coinsurance, and no out-of-pocket payments to make.
Walgreens should bill Medicare directly.
And ask the pharmacist to pass on the information about the flu shot to your primary care doctor.
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